How to set up a WhatsApp video call on Xiaomi Redmi: the full guide

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have become the standard of availability and functionality, allowing users to stay connected anywhere in the world. Video messaging has replaced traditional calls, providing the ability to see the interlocutor in real time. However, owners of devices based on the MIUI shell or HyperOS sometimes face the need to fine-tune the permissions and network parameters for stable multimedia functions.

The process of organizing a video conference or a personal conversation can be complicated not only by technical failures, but also by the aggressive energy saving policy of the Android system. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will help you activate and fine-tune video calls.

We will look not only at the basic settings inside the application, but also system requirements, without which the video stream can be interrupted or transmitted with delays. We will pay special attention to the specifics of the background processes on Xiaomi, since they are the ones that most often block access to the camera at the right time.

Basic requirements and device preparation

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your Redmi device meets the minimum technical requirements for video communication. Connection stability depends on the speed of the Internet connection and the availability of free space in RAM. If these parameters are not optimized, even the most perfect instructions will not help to avoid “squares” instead of the face of the interlocutor.

First, check the version of the operating system and the messenger itself. Developers regularly release security updates and patches that improve video compression codecs. To check, go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI or HyperOS version to initiate a search for updates.

  • 📱 Make sure your device has the latest version of WhatsApp from the official Google Play store or GetApps.
  • 📶 Check the speed of the Internet connection: HD-Video needs a stable channel at least 2-3 Mbit/s.
  • 🔋 Charge your smartphone battery to at least 20%, as video calling is an energy-intensive process.

It is also important to note that on some Xiaomi models with limited RAM (RAM) volumes, the system can force background applications to close, which can cause an incoming video call to fail if the messenger has been “downloaded” from memory.

💡

Before an important video call, reboot your smartphone – this will clear the cache and free up RAM, which will significantly reduce the risk of the camera hanging during a conversation.

Configure access permissions for MIUI and HyperOS

MIUI and HyperOS have strict privacy policies that can block applications from accessing critical modules by default. The messenger needs rights to use the camera, microphone and phone book to run a video call. Without the user’s explicit permission, Android will simply prevent the app from running a video stream.

To set up access, open your Xiaomi Redmi System Settings and search for the Apps section. From the installed program list, select WhatsApp and go to App Permissions, and here you will see a list of all the phone features that the messenger can request access to.

  • 📸 Find the Camera and set the switch to the “Allowed” or “Always Allowed” position».
  • 🎙️ Select the Microphone and also activate access, otherwise the interlocutor will not hear you.
  • 📞 Make sure that you are allowed access to Contacts and Phone to correctly display the caller.

⚠️ Note: Newer versions of Android (13 and above) have a separate Photo and Video switch.If it's not enabled, you won't be able to send media files or take photos during a video call, although the video stream itself may work.

Once you change your settings, you can close the application completely and start it again. Sometimes the changes only come into effect after you restart the process. On Redmi devices, you can swipe from the bottom up with your finger held, and then select the cleaning button (Cross or Garbage Bin) above the application window.

📊 What quality of communication do you encounter most often?
HD (excellent)
SD (normal)
Low (pixels)
Sound's up, no video.

Optimization of the background

One of the most common problems on Xiaomi smartphones is aggressive energy saving, which kills background processes to save battery power, which leads to the fact that notifications about incoming video calls may come late or not at all.

Go to your device's battery settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but it usually looks like Settings → Battery and Performance (or just Battery).

The path to change profile:


Settings → Applications → All applications → WhatsApp → Battery → Without restrictions

Select the “No Limits” option, which will allow the system to use more resources to maintain a permanent connection to the messenger server, and also make sure that in the AutoRun (located in the Security app or in the application settings), the switch opposite WhatsApp is activated.

  • ⚡ Activation of “No Limits” prevents the application from “freezing” in the background.
  • 🔔 Enable notifications to be displayed on the lock screen in notification settings.
  • 🚫 Turn off Traffic Savings mode for this application if it is activated.

If you use Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode, make sure WhatsApp is added to the exclusion list, otherwise the phone will block sound signals and vibrations when an incoming video call is made, even if the internet is stable.

☑️ Checklist of battery optimization

Done: 0 / 4

Camera calibration and video quality

The quality of the picture during a conversation depends not only on the speed of the Internet, but also on the settings of the camera itself and the codecs inside the application. On Redmi smartphones with multiple camera modules (wide-angle, macro, main) it is important that the messenger uses the right lens. Sometimes a software failure causes the application to use the front-facing camera of low resolution instead of the main one when switching modes.

Inside WhatsApp itself, you can find the option to use less data for calls in your call settings, and if you have a volatile Internet, you need to turn it on, and it will lower the resolution of the video, but it will make the picture smoother by removing jerks and delays.

ParameterRecommended valueImpact on the call
Video resolution720p (HD)Balance of quality and traffic
Bitrate audioHigh-pitchedClear sound, less noise
Use of dataAuto/LimitedDepends on the user's tariff
StabilizationOn (hardware)Removes shaking when moving

It is also worth checking whether the camera settings of the smartphone mode “Video effects” or “Buytification” to the maximum. Excessive software processing of the image before sending to the messenger can create additional load on the Xiaomi processor, causing device heating and trottling (decreased performance), which will adversely affect the smoothness of the video stream.

The secret to stabilization
If you're walking around a room during a video call, try to hold your phone with both hands. WhatsApp's built-in stabilization algorithms work worse than the camera's native app, so the physical stability of the device is critical.

Solving Sound and Microphone Problems

Video communication is established but no sound is available or the interlocutor cannot hear you is quite common. On Xiaomi Redmi devices, a separate audio module is responsible for processing the sound, which can conflict with other applications or equalizer system settings.

First, check if the sound has switched to a Bluetooth headset that can be connected to the phone but lie in another room.In the notification curtain or in the volume menu during the call, make sure that the phone speaker or wired headphones are selected.

⚠️ Warning: If you use a safety glass or cover, make sure they don't overlap the bottom hole of the microphone. On many Redmi models, the main noise reduction microphone is on the bottom end, next to the charging connector.

In the audio settings (Settings → Sound and Vibration), check if Mono Sound or other special effects that can distort voice are activated. Also try clearing the microphone cache through the Apps menu → All Apps → Android Component Manager → Storage → Clear the cache (be careful, don’t confuse it with data cleanup).

If the problem persists, check the microphone in the recorder, if it's clean, it's software problem inside the messenger, and then reinstall the app with a pre-reserve backup of the chats in Google Drive.

Frequent errors and methods of their elimination

Even when set up correctly, there can be specific errors that are common with Android and WhatsApp bundles. Understanding the error codes or symptoms helps quickly diagnose the problem, and users are most likely to encounter a message that says “can’t connect” or a black screen instead of a video.

A black screen in a video call often indicates that another app has intercepted access to the camera. Close all programs using the camera (Instagram, TikTok, Native Camera) through the task menu. If that doesn't help, perform a full reboot of the smartphone.

  • ❌ Connection Error: Check if the date and time are not automatically corrected (Settings) → Additionally. → Date and time: Time out-synchronization blocks secure connections.
  • 📉 Low speed: Try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (or vice versa) to rule out router issues.
  • 📱 Version conflict: Make sure that the interlocutor also has an up-to-date version of the application installed.

In rare cases, resetting network settings helps, and this action will return the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile network settings to factory values, but will not delete your personal files. → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.

💡

90% of video calls problems on Xiaomi are solved by switching the battery profile to “No Limits” and checking the relevance of time in the system.

Why does the video call stop when the screen is locked?
This is because the system goes into power saving mode when the display is off and limits background data transfer. Solution: Enable "No Limits" in the WhatsApp battery settings and prevent the system from falling asleep with Wi-Fi in advanced Wi-Fi settings.
Can I improve the quality of Redmi Note videos with low resolution?
Hardware quality limits are not possible, but it is possible to clean the camera lens, provide good face light (light should fall on you, not behind) and use stable 5GHz Wi-Fi to avoid compression artifacts.
What if the person doesn’t see me, but I can see him?
It's probably a problem with your micro-camera module or its resolution, check if the lens is closed, and try taking a photo in the camera app, because if the photo is black or the camera app is making an error, you may need to repair the camera plume at the service center.
Does the Traffic Savings mode affect video calls?
Yes, it's critical. In this mode, WhatsApp reduces the bitrate of video to a minimum, the picture becomes blurry, and the sound becomes monophonic.
How to turn on a video call if the camera button is inactive?
If the video button is inactive (gray), then either there is no Internet connection, or you call a number that does not have WhatsApp installed, or you have revoked the rights to access the camera in the Android settings.